Pink Floyd : A Saucerful Of Secrets

(Stereo - Blue/Black Columbia Labels with G1 / R1 Stampers!)

This rare and highly collectable first pressing has the holy grail of stampers 'G1' on S1.  Based on EMIs GRAMOPHLTD system 'G' is obviously the first stamper and 'R' only the second.  The 'G1' stamper is the one that any collector is always after as it signifies the very first pressing 'run' of any particular 'run'.

A 'G1/G1' pressing of 'A Saucerful Of Secrets' was issued so the one I am selling is the second in that line but of course it still used the first stamper for S1.

This plays with excellent audio overall but there is some intermittent static every now and then and a little distortion which is common on these first pressings.  In saying that there are no loud clicks, pops, skips or jumps and many sections play very well indeed.  The G&L Patents pending cover is in excellent order and the original EMI inner has no splits!

SCX 6258 // YAX 3633 - 1 / YAX 3634 - 1 // G 1 / R 1

The audio on Side One is Ex- (Ex in many sections / track 3 VG+)

The audio on S2 is Ex (Ex+ in many sections / track 2 VG+ to Ex- / track 3 end section VG+)

The laminated cover is Ex-

The labels are Near Mint-

The inner sleeve is Ex

Visual grading

There are a number of fine hairlines on S1 but only 3/4 on S1 that are a little more obvious.  S2 is extremely clean and whilst there are some faint hairlines again there are no prominent marks.  The vinyl still has an impressive 'look' for its 50+ years and has carefully handled down the years.  It is definitely not one that was taken to a lot of parties!  There are no scratches and it still has a glossy sheen and certainly at first glance it is visually very impressive.  The hairlines are very faint!  It is getting harder to find decent copies of these Blue Columbia pressings today and this one, whilst not perfect, is in excellent condition.  It has been played a fair amount judging by the spindle wear but the labels and run out grooves are still very clean.  A fine example of this iconic album.

Play grading  

'Let There Be More Light' has only minimal static on the first 2/3 grooves and the build up to the first vocal section plays extremely well with no clicks, pops or crackle at all.  As the vocal begins the clarity is very impressive and there is only the very lightest of static.  It really is so much in the background and totally non-intrusive, the playback could hardly be any better!  There are a couple of very soft clicks right at the end of the vocal and the instrumental section then plays very well with only a minimal amount of static distortion.  Again this is minimal and I only mention it so as to provide a complete and honest grading.  It is not intrusive and is a common feature on this album anyway.  With only a little static on the fade out this is an excellent start to this iconic album.

'Remember A Day' plays very clearly from start to finish.  For a 51 year old record the audio is of an excellent standard and all you can hear is a little static background every now and then.  There are a couple of gentle 'ticks' but there are no loud clicks or pops.

'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun' is of course the first real test of this album as the vast majority plays so quietly.  The intro has a little more static and 3/4 light static ticks.  Don't get me wrong it still plays very well but yes there is a little 'background' but again no intrusive clicks or pops.  Once the vocal begins the audio is very clear and as it continues there is only a little static distortion in a couple of places.  Light static can be heard throughout but it could be said this adds to the atmosphere?!  There is more static during the mid instrumental section but the music still comes through clearly and the final vocal section begins with great clarity but again there is an increase in the static as you approach the end and a couple of light clicks.  This track so often plays with some interference and whilst this is by no means a 'perfect' version it is still eminently playable and there are no loud pops, skips or jumps.

'Corporal Clegg' as all Floyd fans know always has some distortion and there is some here on the first section.  No more than usual though and it still plays clearly.  The more I play this track the more I am impressed by it!  Many sections play with great clarity and barely any interference.  A little more static on the final vocal but it's the instrumental sections that really stand out here as they all play with excellent depth and clarity.  The end section in particular plays incredibly well and this is a version that does not disappoint.

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The intro on 'A Saucerful Of Secrets' plays very clearly and for such a quiet opening this is rare on the blue Columbia first pressings.  The clarity and definition of the audio is excellent and there is very little to detract from the audio.  There is a little static but it is minimal and on the first couple of minutes or so I heard only one static tick.  As the volume increases there is a little more static but does not last long.  As Mason enters the piece the audio remains very strong and again there is barely any 'background'.  Thus far this is a great version of this timeless classic!  This entire percussive section plays with excellent sound quality and with only a little static distortion here and there and as it ends the playback is very clear indeed with minimal static.  As the church organ comes in the clarity remains and again there is very little static.  As it continues there is a little static but I have to say the playback is very impressive and any static is largely in the background.  I often think I make my gradings sound worse than they are by mentioning every minor imperfection and especially on the longer tracks such as this!  I am at pains to say to say this entire track plays extremely well indeed and as the choral section begins there is no let up in quality.  There is more static as you approach the end but this really is the only section where it is a little intrusive and only lasts for about 30 seconds.  A wonderful version overall!

The intro on 'See-Saw' plays very cleanly although there is some static from the 20 second mark.  In the main it plays well but yes there is some static distortion every now and then but there are no clicks, pops or skips.  Many sections do actually play with excellent clarity and the vocals especially.  It is mainly on the top end where there is a little static distortion.  The fade out plays with great clarity and no obvious 'background' at all.

'Jugband Blues' begins superbly with barely any static and the vocals are stunning.  This track will regularly play with distortion being the final track but this a highly creditable version with no obvious interference whatsoever.  In fact it is one of the cleanest versions I have heard in a long time.  So far there is barely any static and no clicks or pops!  There is a little static on the 'la la la' vocal and a little more on the brass section but again it is not really intrusive.  The final acoustic section does have a little static also but the vocal can still be heard very clearly.

In summary this rare first pressing does have some static/distortion but for the large part plays very well and would add to any collection.  Not one for the purists perhaps but there is not one section that you wouldn't want to play and of course it has the rare G1 stamper!  Plus as stated earlier the vinyl is visually in excellent condition as is the flipback cover.

The Cover

The laminated G&L Patents pending cover has only minor shelf wear and remains in excellent condition.  The edges are in fine order with only a couple of minor rubs and the thin pinched spine is also very clean with just a handful of small crease lines and it is still 100% legible.  There is some corner wear but not a great deal and the opening edge is in great shape with only minimal handling wear.  The front cover is very clean and the laminate just has some light creasing near the opening edge and there is just one very small split near the spine.  There are also a few small creases adjacent to the spine area.  The back cover is in excellent order with no marking/fading at all.  The flipbacks have some light creases but there are no splits and none of the staining that you so often see.  An excellent example of this iconic cover that is now over 50 years old.

Inner sleeve

Thee original EMI inner with 16 LPs advertised on each side is in excellent shape with no splits or tears.  There are a couple of very minor marks and a little creasing but it has stood the test of time very well.

The labels

The famous Blue/Black Columbia labels are in great condition and have lost none of their original vivid 'blue' colour.  There is some spindle wear but this is all inside the inner circle.  There are no markings/writing and the KT tax stamp can be seen clearly on the S2 label.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

SCX 6258 // YAX 3633 - 1 / YAX 3634 - 1 // G 1 / R 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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